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For a confrontation with Tony, it had started out pretty well. At least considering other ones that hadn’t gone so smoothly. Tony had yet to turn around or verbally acknowledge him, but James had enough history with him that he knew Tony was listening.
If Tony was actually taking in what James was saying was another story, but this was enough for now.
“You said nobody else would possess this technology for twenty years but guess what, somebody else had it yesterday. It’s not theoretical anymore,” James paused, walking over to Tony. He could tell by now that Tony wasn’t going to respond unless he forced it.
“Are you listening to me?” That finally seemed to get a reaction out of Tony, but not the one James had wanted.
Tony didn’t look like he’d taken in a word James said, nor did he look well at all. The blank look James got in response didn’t help him feel more at ease here. “Tones? Hey, you with me?”
Tony stared at him a beat longer before weakly clapping a hand against James' arm, the first real reaction he’d given all conversation. “I’m good.”
“Not what I asked,” James replied but he instantly reacted as Tony pushed himself out of the car. James went around to the other side, reacting instantly as Tony stumbled and slumped against the side of the car.
Something had been wrong with Tony for a while, James wasn’t stupid. But the alarm bells were louder now as he helped steady Tony who seemed to be starting to wheeze. James steadied him, getting Tony to sit down before anything else.
“I need to get to my desk,” Tony muttered, but he made no move to get up.
James was about to ask what the hell was happening, when Tony suddenly clutched at his arm. “Get the wooden box off my desk.”
James met his eyes for a long moment before he stood up again, quickly walking over to Tony’s chest and finding said box. He grabbed it, not bothering to open it before going back to Tony’s side. He’d only been gone max a minute, but Tony had seemingly passed out in that time.
James sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face before sitting back on the floor. “JARVIS, vitals,” he called, vaguely listening to what the AI was saying, as he checked Tony over, running a hand carefully over whatever was on Tony’s neck.
Tony stirred then, blinking at James who was still touching Tony’s neck. “Eager to touch me, honeybear?”
James rolled his eyes but didn’t respond to the tease. Just sat back, watching as Tony slowly sat up further, seemingly regaining his bearings. Eventually James made a decision, standing up and slowly helping Tony to his feet. The younger man went easily, which was another thing James filed away for later.
“Come on, I’m taking you to bed,” James stated, slowly leading Tony towards his bedroom. Tony went easily once again, which was also mentally added to the list of worrying things James had discovered that day.
They got about halfway there before Tony suddenly stopped, wheezing heavily for a second before turning around in James' grip. “I need that box.”
James nodded, propping Tony up against the wall and making sure he was steady, before running back in the workshop and grabbing the box. The rest of the walk to Tony’s bedroom went smoothly and soon James deposited Tony on his bed, sitting next to him with the box.
“Are you going to explain to me what’s going on with you?” James asked, watching as Tony casually took the arc reactor out of his chest and took the core of it, which was visibly smoking, out.
“Is that supposed to be smoking?” James asked, figuring this had something to do with the wheezing he’d been noticing. And probably the fainting too.
“It’s neutron damage from the reactor,” Tony explained, like that was enough of an explanation for all that had happened that evening.
James sat back as Tony replaced the core, putting the arc reactor back in his chest then slumping against the pillows again. James shifted so he was sitting next to him, sighing as he tilted his head back.
“Why’d you faint?” James asked after a few minutes of silence.
Tony forced a smirk, turning to look at his best friend. “Lack of sleep, the arc reactor in my chest that’s slowly poisoning me, take your pick.”
“The arc reactor is poisoning you? God Tony, you really need to tell me these things.”
“I just did.”
“You know that’s not what I mean. Is this poison also what’s causing that high tech crossword puzzle on your neck?”
“I’m handling it, Rhodey. Don’t you worry about it,” Tony said, closing his eyes as he laid back.
James rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I asked and you know it.”
Tony didn’t respond and James didn’t push, knowing it was useless right now. That typically didn’t stop him and he had no issue with pushing against Tony’s stubbornness and impulsive tendencies, but something had him stopping this time.
Unlike Tony, James had always known when to stop.
So he sighed again, pushing himself up and grabbing a random empty water bottle from Tony’s nightstand, quickly filling it up and setting it back. Tony cracked an eye open, watching him. After making sure Tony had water and Tylenol just in case, he headed to the door.
“Just sleep, Tony,” he ordered, mentally figuring out how he was going to explain this one to Pepper.
“Thought we had to figure out a way to get ahead of this situation,” Tony smirked, but the gesture was dulled by the exhaustion clouding his features.
James rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, we’ll be doing that first thing in the morning. And after that, you’ll be telling me the full truth about this poisoning and will be figuring out a solution.”
Tony thought about telling Rhodey how he’d already tried every possible solution, and the only solution left seemed to be temporary measures until eventual death. But he thought against that when he got another glance at Rhodey’s face and decided maybe he could use some sleep.
And by looking at him, Rhodey probably could too.
“You should sleep too, platypus.”
“I’ll sleep when I’m done cleaning up your mess, Tones. Just rest, okay? For once in your damn life.”
“Okay mom.”
James snorted but his expression softened as Tony seemed to relax into his bed. In the morning they’d solve this, or at least attempt too. Right now all that mattered was Tony staying alive until that happened.
And maybe if he could leave here before anyone calling him again or Pepper stopping him on his way out, he’d also be able to catch some sleep tonight.